Lock controlled switch



Oct. 5, 1948. c, wHELAN 2,450,819

LOCK CONTROLLED SWITCH Filed Oct. 2, 1944 Inventor CHH/ELESMCHHELM/EL a,

C By @0009 Patented Oct. 5, 1948 LOCK CONTROLLED SWITCH Charles Michael Whelan, Altadena, "Califi, assignor of one-half to Alma -E. Whelan, Altadena, Calif.

Application October 2, 1944, Serial No. 556,773

10 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a lock controlled switch, anclymore particularly to such a switch adaptedto control electrical apparatus such as lights or the like.

.A primary object of this invention is the provision of an improved switch means, adapted for automatically turning the lights'or electrical appliances within-a room, such as a hotel room or the like,'off when the occupantof sucha room leaves, said switch being actuatedby theinsertion of a key into the door lock.

An additional important object of'this invention isthe provision of a device adapted to preclude thedanger of fires, short circuits, and extravagantuse of electrical current, incident to the inadvertent operation of electrical appliances, within a'room, when the occupant thereof is not present.

Still another object resides in the provision of such a device which will'be sturdy and durable in construction, reliable and eflicient in operation, andrelatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture and install.

Qther objects reside in the combinations of elements, arrangements of parts, and features of construction, all as will be more fully pointed out hereinafter and shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein there is disclosed a preferred embodiment of this inventive concept.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a'schematic side view partially in elevation and partially in section showing the apparatus as appled to a door, door j'amb and switch box.

FigureZ is a view similar to Figure 1, certain portions being shown in elevation and certain others being shown in section, showing the device in adirferent position of adjustment, and

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 3-3 of Figure 1 as viewed in the direction indicated by'the arrows.

Like "reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views of thedrawings.

Having reference now to the drawings-there is generally indicated at lilthe wall of a room or building or the, like, having a door frame l provided with a door'lii. Positioned within the door frame lfiyisra receptacleal-ito: which apressure line H!- leads, and from which a drain line [5 extends. .A, second. linellileads from the lower portion of receptacle 13' to a switch actuating devicegenerally indicated. at H, to be more'fully described hereinafter- Positioned withinrhe receptacle i3 is-a baflle plate t8 curved or bent. asat 19', to form: a valve, adapted tospermitthe-fiuid frc-m the pressure line li litocnter'the linelihor alternatively, when the bafileis moved to its extreme rig-ht hand position, as seen in Figure 1, to close line M and permit fluid to escape from line 16 to line I5. Secured tobaflle I8 is an extending rod 20 which extends outwardly through a suitable aperture in the side walls of receptacle l3 and which-may be sealed in any'desired means, as by a fluid-tight bushing, and aboutthe exterior portion 'of which is pos'i tioned a compression spring tl. Theouter en'd ofthe rod-20 is provided witha head'22 positioned adjacent a 'keeper'2-3 of a latch boltE-i of a con ventional latch 25 0i any desired type.

From theforegoing it will now be-seen that when the bolt 24 is moved inwar'dl'yas by a-key or the like,-the plate is forced to the position shown in Figure 1, whereupon the pressure line 1-4 is in communicationwith the line l5, andthe fluid therefrom serves to actuate'switch operating device H, in a manner to be described hereinafter.

Conversely, when the bolt 24 is withdrawn to unlocked position the'pressure of'the spring 21 causes the valve member or bafile 18 to move-outwardly with respect to the pressure line H, in such manneras to closepressure line H in communication with the outlet or drain line l5,'thus releasing the fluid pressure in member 'f'l.

Having reference'now to-Figure'li, it will be seen that the member i! is comprised of a sleeve tothe lower and place line l-Gportionof which is secured in fluid-tight relation a head 3| provided with a threaded bore 32 to which the-extremity of 'line-ffi'is secured. Positioned within the sleeve-3U is a piston -35 provided with a piston rod 36 extending through abore in a cylindrical member-31, suitably positioned in member as and having a fluid-tight gasket 33 positioned therearound to seal the valve stem 35 in fluid-might relation therewith. A compression spring 40 serves normally to bias the piston 35 toward the plate 3 l'.

Pivotally secured to the upper end of piston ro'd Zifi; asbya pivot M, is a lever 42' pivotallyseoured to anarm' ifi extending outwardly from aswitch box' idmounted on the wall Hi.

Positioned within the switch box '44 isa master switch ofa-ny desiredtype, adapted tobreak the circuit to the electrical equipment withinthe room or dwelling or the like wherein it is position'edi 'Now'from the foregoing the operation of the device should be readily understandable. When pressure is admitte'dto the device in the manner previously described, by the-actuation of the bolt 24, the piston'dli is 'forced upwardly to the position shown in Figure 1, whereupon the arm 43 isnrovedto throw'the switch within the switch box 44, to cut offall' the electrical apparatus-associated therewith, the pressure being retained within'the sleeve 30 so long as the bolt24 is in engagement wit'h'the'head 22 of the operating rod 28. Withdrawal of the bolt as by unlocking the door or the like, causes movement of the valve or baflile I 8 to relieve the pressure within the line, whereupon the pressure of the spring 49 serves to move the piston rod 36 to the position shown in Figure 2, thus closing the switch to permit the electrical circuit of the apparatus within the room to be re-closed.

From the foregoing it will now be seen that there is herein provided a, device accomplishing all the objects of this invention and others including many advantages of great practical utility.

While in the foregoing the mechanism for operating the switch contained within the switch box 44 has been described as a hydraulic apparatus adapted to be actuated by fluid pressure or the like, it will be understood that the scope of this invention contemplates the use of analogous mechanisms actuated by a key operated bolt effectively to cut off the current to electrical appliances in a given area, when the occupant thereof leaves and locks the door.

As many embodiments may be made of this inventive concept, and as many modifications may be made in the embodiment hereinbefore shown and described, it is to be understood that r all matter herein is to be interpreted merely as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. An apparatus for actuating a circuit breaker comprising a door, a frame supporting said door, a bolt operatively associated with said door and frame, a circuit breaker remote from said frame, fluid actuated means for selectively opening and closing said circuit breaker and means actuated by said bolt for actuating said opening and closing means.

2. An apparatus for actuating a circuit breaker comprising a door, a frame supporting said door, a bolt operatively associated with said door and frame, a circuit breaker remote from said frame,

means motivated by said bolt for selectively opening and closing said circuit breaker, said last means including a receptacle secured to said frame, a plunger in said receptacle engageable with said bolt, means for resiliently biasing said plunger against said bolt, means for transmitting force exerted on said plunger to said circuit breaker, means intercommunicating said force transmitting means and said receptacle, means in said receptacle associated with said plunger 1 for selectively controlling said intercommunicating means.

3. The combination of claim 2, said circuit breaker having an arm extending therefrom, said force transmitting means including a cylinder secured to said intercommunicating means, a piston in said cylinder and means for connecting said piston with said arm.

4. The combination of claim 3 and means for resiliently biasing said piston within said cylinder.

5. The combination of claim 4 wherein said intercommunicating means comprises conduit means.

6. The combination of claim 5, said selective control means comprising a plate slidably received in said receptacle selectively opening and closing selected conduit means.

'7. In a door actuated circuit breaking apparatus, a door and means for supporting said door, a bolt associated with said door and said support means, a source of fluid, a receptacle secured to said support means, means for intercommunicating said source of fluid and said receptacle, a circuit breaker remote from said receptacle, a cylinder, means in said cylinder for selectively actuating said circuit breaker, a conduit connecting said receptacle and said cylinder, means in said receptacle actuated by said bolt for selectively controlling the communication between said cylinder and said receptacle.

8. In a door actuated circuit breaking apparatus, a door and means for supporting said door, a bolt associated with said door and said support means, a source of fluid, a receptacle secured to said support means, means for intercommunicating said source of fluid and said receptacle, a circuit breaker remote from said receptacle, a cylinder, means in said cylinder for selectively actuating said circuit breaker, a conduit connecting said receptacle and said cylinder, means in said receptacle actuated by said bolt for selectively controlling the communication between said cylinder and said receptacle, a bypass conduit connecting said source of fluid and said receptacle, said selective control means including a plate slidable in said receptacle covering selectively said bypass and said first-mentioned conduits, and means for resiliently urging said plate to selected positions.

9. Circuit breaking means comprising a door and a support therefor, a source of fluid, a receptacle, means for supporting said receptacle adjacent said door, a conduit connecting said source and said receptacle, a circuit breaker, means ineluding a cylinder having a resiliently biased piston therein for selectively actuating said circuit breaker, a second conduit connecting said last means and said receptacle, a bypass pipe secured to said receptacle adjacent said second conduit, a bolt associated with said door and said support, means in said receptacle actuated by said bolt for selectively opening and closing said bypass, said second conduit and said first conduit.

10. Circuit breaking means comprising a door and a support therefor, a source of fluid, a receptacle, means for supporting said receptacle adjacent said door, a conduit connecting said source and said receptacle, a circuit breaker, means including a cylinder having a resiliently biased piston therein for selectively actuating said circuit breaker, a second conduit connecting said last means and said receptacle, a bypass pipe secured to said receptacle adjacent said second conduit, a bolt associated with said door and said support, means in said receptacle actuated by said bolt for selectively opening and closing said bypass, said second conduit and said first conduit, said bolt actuated means comprising a plate valve having a plunger secured thereto and extending through said receptacle, means for resiliently urging said plunger in engagement with said bolt.

CHARLES MICHAEL WHELAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 

